CCOF - farm billhttps://www.ccof.org/tags-farm-bill
en2018 Conservation Stewardship Program Enrollment Window Openshttps://www.ccof.org/blog/2018-conservation-stewardship-program-enrollment-window-opens
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><div>The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced that U.S. farmers and ranchers have until March 2, 2018, to submit an initial fiscal year (FY) 2018 application for the nation’s largest working lands program, the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). </div>
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<div>Over 72 million acres across the country–roughly 8 percent of all agricultural land–are currently enrolled in whole-farm conservation contracts. The significant amount of working lands already enrolled in CSP, and the fact that in recent years CSP has had to turn away as many as 75 percent of qualified applicants, is evidence of the voluntary conservation program’s enormous popularity.</div>
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<div>CSP’s ability to enroll qualified farmers is largely contingent on available federal funds. The 2014 Farm Bill reduced CSP’s annual enrollment from 12.8 million acres to 10 million acres, which resulted in thousands of qualified farmers being turned away from the program. </div>
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<div>Through the 2018 sign-up period, NRCS will enroll an additional 10 million acres of cropland, pastureland, rangeland, and forestland in CSP. <strong>Interested farmers and ranchers must submit their applications by March 2, 2018, in order to be considered for this year's sign-up.</strong></div>
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<div>Current participants whose initial contracts are set to expire at the end of the year will also have the opportunity to renew their contracts for an additional five-year period; USDA will announce a separate deadline for renewals in the coming weeks.</div>
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<div>The initial step to apply for CSP is easy. Interested producers should act quickly to ensure consideration in this year’s sign-up. To apply, farmers and ranchers can go to their <a href="http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?agency=nrcs" target="_blank">local NRCS office</a> and submit the initial application materials–a simple form that asks for basic information regarding land ownership, type of production, and contact information. Once the initial application is accepted by NRCS, producers are then scored based on current and planned future conservation activities. If applicants meet acceptable conservation levels, they become eligible to compete in a ranking process that determines who will receive contracts. NRCS works down through the list of eligible applicants until acreage allocated to the particular state for that particular year runs out.</div>
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<div>While applicants can apply for CSP anytime throughout the year, interested producers should submit applications before the March 2 deadline to ensure that they are considered for enrollment in FY 2018. </div>
<div>The 2018 CSP is especially significant because it is the final enrollment opportunity under the authority provided by the 2014 Farm Bill, which is set to expire September 30 of this year. </div>
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<div>Farmers and ranchers interested in application support materials can find assistance through the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), of which CCOF is a member. NSAC will publish an updated Information Alert with step-by-step sign-up instructions and a complete list of all available conservation activities on their <a href="http://sustainableagriculture.net/publications/" target="_blank">website</a> as details from NRCS become available. </div>
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<div>Interested producers can also utilize NSAC’s <a href="http://sustainableagriculture.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/CSP-digital-v3-Nov-2016-FINAL.pdf" target="_blank">Farmers’ Guide to the Conservation Stewardship Program</a>, which was updated last year to reflect the latest enrollment guidance and includes key definitions, explanations of the ranking and payment system, and helpful hints for accessing the program. </div>
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<div><u>About the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)</u></div>
<div>The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition is a grassroots alliance that advocates for federal policy reform supporting the long-term social, economic, and environmental sustainability of agriculture, natural resources, and rural communities. Learn more and get involved at <a href="http://sustainableagriculture.net" target="_blank">sustainableagriculture.net</a>.</div>
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</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Tags: </h3><ul class="links inline"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0">biodiversity</li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-1">farm bill</li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-2">grower</li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-3">handler</li></ul></div>Mon, 12 Feb 2018 19:56:03 +0000Guest Blogger747766 at https://www.ccof.orgCalifornia Joins CCOF with Organic Farm Bill Priorities https://www.ccof.org/blog/california-joins-ccof-organic-farm-bill-priorities
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><div>The state of California shared their <a href="https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/farm_bill/pdfs/2018FarmBillPriorities.pdf" target="_blank">2018 Farm Bill recommendations</a> with congressional leaders in the House of Representatives and the Senate. The letter was signed by the heads of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), the California Natural Resource Agency, and the California Health and Human Services Agency. </div>
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<div>California’s recommendations cover funding food and nutrition programs, protecting and enhancing conservation programs, safeguarding marketing and trade programs, strengthening animal and plant health programs, and making investments in research. </div>
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<div>The recommendations incorporated CCOF’s farm bill priorities and provide strong reinforcement to the programs and initiatives that the organic community has broadly supported in the upcoming farm bill. California recommends:</div>
<ul><li>Extending mandatory funding for competitive grant programs including the Organic Agricultural Research and Extension Initiative (OREI).</li>
<li>Continuing crop insurance for organic crops.</li>
<li>Increasing funding for the National Organic Program relative to the growth of organic to ensure organic integrity.</li>
<li>Maintaining funding for the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program, the Organic Research and Promotion Program, and the Organic Production and Market Data Initiatives. </li>
</ul><div> </div>
<div>CDFA gathered input from farmers, ranchers, and other stakeholders during five farm bill listening sessions across California in February. This input helped form California’s recommendations. For more information, please see <a href="https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/farm_bill/" target="_blank">CDFA’s Farm Bill page</a>. </div>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Tags: </h3><ul class="links inline"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0">advocacy</li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-1">farm bill</li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-2">policy</li></ul></div>Mon, 28 Aug 2017 17:33:14 +0000Peter Nell437546 at https://www.ccof.orgOrganic Farmers Testify at Farm Bill Listening Sessionshttps://www.ccof.org/blog/organic-farmers-testify-farm-bill-listening-sessions
<div class="field field-name-field-blogimage field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.ccof.org/sites/default/files/styles/blog_large/public/02a%20-%20organic%20advocates.jpg?itok=0NLxJCSS" width="665" height="319" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><div>
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<p style="font-size:11px;"><strong>Photo, left to right:</strong> Grant Brians, CCOF Board of Directors member; Laura Batcha, OTA; Melody Meyer, UNFI; Sam Farr, retired Congressman; Karen Ross, California Secretary of Agriculture; Mark Lipson, organic farmer &amp; OFRF senior policy and program specialist.</p>
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CCOF-certified farmers and CCOF staff presented testimony at two farm bill listening sessions convened in California last week.</div>
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<div>A listening session in Modesto on August 5 attracted an audience of over 250 to present their farm bill priorities to members of the House Agriculture Committee Michael Conaway (R-Texas), Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale), Rep. Dwight Evans (D-Pennsylvania), and Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Turlock). Rep. David Valadao (R-Hanford) also listened to the testimony.</div>
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<div>Tim Schultz of Lundberg Family Farms drove down from Chico to make comments in support of organic research funding and sufficient support for the National Organic Program (NOP) to maintain strong organic enforcement. </div>
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<div>Cindy Lashbrook of Riverdance Farms in Livingston pointed out that organic farmers asked for the national organic program because of competition from farmers claiming to be organic when they weren’t. She also requested NOP funding “that grows with organic farming.” Lashbrook also spoke in support of the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).</div>
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<div>Mark Lipson, senior policy and program specialist for the Organic Farming Research Foundation, expressed organic solidarity with all farmers and spoke in favor of organic research. CCOF also supported organic research, NOP funding, and the Organic Certification Cost Share</div>
<div>Program.</div>
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<div>On August 10, a smaller but just as passionate crowd gathered in Salinas to present their farm bill priorities to House Agriculture Committee members Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley), Jim Costa (D-Fresno), and ranking member Collin Peterson (D-Minnesota). Retired congressman Sam Farr made an appearance, and California’s Secretary of Agriculture Karen Ross was also present.</div>
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<div>Organic speakers in Salinas included Javier Zamora of JSM Organic Farms in Aromas; Laura Batcha, executive director of the Organic Trade Association; Steve Koretoff of Purity Organics in Kerman; Melody Meyer, vice president of policy and industry relations, United Natural Foods; Grant Brians, CCOF board member and owner of Heirloom Organic Gardens in Hollister; and Phil Foster of Foster Ranch/Pinnacle Brand in San Juan Bautista. </div>
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<div>Other issues raised at both farm bill listening sessions were the need for a unified farm bill that includes sufficient funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, support for agricultural export programs, and the need for agricultural research and conservation programs. </div>
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<div>As they prepare to draft the 2018 Farm Bill, the House Agriculture Committee has scheduled one more listening session for August 30 in Decatur, Illinois. They will also accept written comment via email to <a href="mailto:HouseAgListens@mail.house.gov">HouseAgListens@mail.house.gov</a>. Video of the Modesto hearing is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXWYT-C7N9k&amp;feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">posted online</a>. </div>
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</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Tags: </h3><ul class="links inline"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0">advocacy</li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-1">farm bill</li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-2">general organic</li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-3">policy</li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-4">regulatory</li></ul></div>Mon, 14 Aug 2017 19:22:40 +0000Jane Sooby428956 at https://www.ccof.orgCongressman LaMalfa Talks Farm Bill with Organic Producershttps://www.ccof.org/blog/congressman-lamalfa-talks-farm-bill-organic-producers
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><div>When Congress takes its August recess and Members go home to their districts, it’s a great time to meet with them directly. This year, it’s an especially good time for farmers to express their thoughts directly on the farm bill coming for renewal in 2018. This week I had the pleasure of sitting in with organic growers from Butte County, California when they met with their Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Oroville).</div>
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<div>Hosting the meeting were members of Lundberg Family Farms, organic rice producers and processors. Other growers joining the meeting were Phil LaRocca of LaRocca Vineyards and CCOF Board of Directors Chair; Darrell Wood, President of Panorama Grass-Fed Meats; and Allen Harthorn of Harpos Organics and CCOF Foundation Board of Trustees Chair. Bryce Lundberg, Jessica Lundberg, and Tim Schultz represented Lundberg Family Farms. Schultz is also an OFRF Board Member. CCOF and OFRF staff rounded out the group.</div>
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<div>The growers laid out their main concerns for the 2018 Farm Bill. Number one for all the growers was the topic of research and extension for organic systems. The growers asked the Congressman directly if he would co-sponsor the Organic Agriculture Research Act (H.R. 2436), to reauthorize the USDA Organic Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) and increase its funding to $50 million per year. He promised to look at it carefully and get back to us.</div>
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<div>Also discussed were the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (essential for smaller organic producers), supporting the USDA National Organic Program’s enforcement efforts, and the crucial issues of farm labor policy.</div>
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<div>The rapport and respect between these organic producers and the Congressman was plainly evident. As a lifetime resident of the area, LaMalfa grew up in the farming and ranching community and clearly understands the agriculture business. His district has a very strong organic farm economy, ranking fifteenth nationally among all Congressional districts for the size of its organic sector. </div>
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<div>As recess district meetings go, this was as good it gets. Thanks to Congressman LaMalfa, his staff, CCOF’s policy team, and especially the organic producers taking the time to do this vital work!</div>
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<div><em>This article was submitted by Mark Lipson, originally published by <a href="http://ofrf.org/news/congressman-lamalfa-talks-farm-bill-organic-producers?utm_source=OFRF+General+Mailing+List+1&amp;utm_campaign=8bf3d8b665-April+Newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_4e39bea10a-8bf3d8b665-&amp;ct=t()" target="_blank">OFRF</a>.</em></div>
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<div><em>Mark Lipson is a CCOF-certified organic producer (Molino Creek Farming Collective), a former CCOF staff member, former policy director for the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF), and recently served as the USDA Organic Agriculture Policy Advisor in Washington D.C. Now he’s back at Molino Creek Farm, hoping for a good dry-farmed tomato crop this fall, and is OFRF’s senior policy and program specialist. Lipson is also currently a research associate with the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Farming Systems at University of California, Santa Cruz.</em></div>
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</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Tags: </h3><ul class="links inline"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0">advocacy</li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-1">farm bill</li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-2">general organic</li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-3">policy</li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-4">regulatory</li></ul></div>Mon, 07 Aug 2017 19:04:51 +0000Guest Blogger428651 at https://www.ccof.orgReminder: Congressmen to Host Farm Bill Roundtable in Salinashttps://www.ccof.org/blog/reminder-congressmen-host-farm-bill-roundtable-salinas
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><div>On Thursday, August 10, 2017, Congressman Jimmy Panetta and Congressman Jim Costa will host a roundtable discussion with Ranking Member Collin Peterson of the U.S. House of Representatives Agriculture Committee.</div>
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<div>The roundtable will be held from 9:30am to 11:00 a.m. at:</div>
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<div>Hartnell Community College – Steinbeck Hall</div>
<div>411 Central Ave. </div>
<div>Salinas, CA 93901</div>
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<div>CCOF highly encourages members to attend the meeting and advocate on behalf of the organic community. The roundtable is a rare opportunity for stakeholders to speak to three congressmen on the important House Agriculture Committee as they work on the 2018 Farm Bill. </div>
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<div>Please contact <a href="mailto:policy@ccof.org">CCOF’s policy department</a> for more information.</div>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Tags: </h3><ul class="links inline"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0">advocacy</li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-1">farm bill</li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-2">policy</li></ul></div>Mon, 07 Aug 2017 18:58:43 +0000Peter Nell428646 at https://www.ccof.orgFarm Bill Sessions Head to Salinashttps://www.ccof.org/blog/farm-bill-sessions-head-salinas
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><div>Members of the United States House of Representatives Agriculture Committee will host a roundtable discussion on the 2018 Farm Bill on Thursday, August 10, 2017. </div>
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<div>Congressmen Jimmy Panetta and Jim Costa will be joined by House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin Peterson to gather California’s Central Coast’s farm bill priorities from 9:30 am to 11:00 a.m. at: </div>
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<div style="margin-left: 40px;">Hartnell Community College – Steinbeck Hall</div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">411 Central Ave. </div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">Salinas, CA 93901</div>
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<div>The event is a rare opportunity for producers on the Central Coast to contribute to the national discussions that will help form the 2018 Farm Bill. CCOF highly encourages all stakeholders to attend the meeting and share their priorities and insights with the congressmen. </div>
<div>Please contact <a href="mailto:policy@ccof.org">CCOF’s policy department</a> for more information.</div>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Tags: </h3><ul class="links inline"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0">advocacy</li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-1">farm bill</li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-2">policy</li></ul></div>Mon, 31 Jul 2017 21:28:30 +0000Peter Nell423321 at https://www.ccof.orgModesto to Host Farm Bill Session August 5https://www.ccof.org/blog/modesto-host-farm-bill-session-august-5
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><div><span style="font-size: 13.008px;">Modesto, California will host the next </span><a href="https://agriculture.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=4009" style="font-size: 13.008px;" target="_blank">House Committee on Agriculture’s</a><span style="font-size: 13.008px;"> farm bill listening session. The session will start at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 5, 2017 at:</span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px;"><span style="font-size: 13.008px;">Modesto Junior College West Campus – ACE Ag Pavilion</span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">Brink Ave. &amp; Shoemaker Ave.</div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">Modesto, CA 95385</div>
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<div>Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway and Ranking Member Collin Peterson are hosting the session to gather input from farmers and stakeholders that will help them form the 2018 Farm Bill. The bill includes funding to the National Organic Program (NOP), the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program, the Organic Research and Extension Initiative (OREI), and many programs that benefit organic producers. It covers 12 sections or titles: commodities, conservation, trade, nutrition, credit, rural development, research, forestry, energy, specialty crops and horticulture, crop insurance, and miscellaneous programs. </div>
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<div>CCOF highly encourages members to attend the listening session. Members of the public will be able to return commenting cards to committee staff with feedback and some members of the public may be selected to give oral comments to the committee. Attending the session is a great opportunity to engage with national policy and discussion while representing the organic community. CCOF staff will attend the meeting and will be available to help facilitate commenting.</div>
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<div>CCOF will continue to track the development of the 2018 Farm Bill. Please contact <a href="mailto:policy@ccof.org">CCOF’s policy department</a> with any questions.</div>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Tags: </h3><ul class="links inline"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0">advocacy</li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-1">farm bill</li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-2">policy</li></ul></div>Mon, 31 Jul 2017 21:25:42 +0000Peter Nell423316 at https://www.ccof.orgHouse Committee on Agriculture Announces Farm Bill Session in Modestohttps://www.ccof.org/blog/house-committee-agriculture-announces-farm-bill-session-modesto
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><div>The House Committee on Agriculture will hold a farm bill listening session in Modesto, California on August 5, 2017. Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway and Ranking Member Collin Peterson will gather input from farmers and stakeholders that will help them form the 2018 Farm Bill.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The farm bill is a crucial piece of legislation that affects millions of Americans. It is passed by Congress every five years and sets the nation’s food and agriculture policies. It consists of 12 major sections or titles: commodities, conservation, trade, nutrition, credit, rural development, research, forestry, energy, specialty crops and horticulture, crop insurance, and miscellaneous programs.</div>
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<div>CCOF highly encourages members to attend the hearing. Attending the listening session is a great opportunity to engage with national politics while representing organic’s presence and importance in California’s agricultural heartland. </div>
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<div>More details on the listening session will be released shortly. </div>
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<div>CCOF will attend the hearing and continue to track the development of the 2017 Farm Bill. Please contact <a href="mailto:policy@ccof.org">CCOF’s policy department</a> with any questions.</div>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Tags: </h3><ul class="links inline"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0">farm bill</li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-1">advocacy</li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-2">regulatory</li></ul></div>Mon, 17 Jul 2017 18:14:15 +0000Peter Nell422766 at https://www.ccof.orgHouse Committee on Agriculture to Host Listening Sessions in Texas & Minnesotahttps://www.ccof.org/blog/house-committee-agriculture-host-listening-sessions-texas-minnesota
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><div>The <a href="https://agriculture.house.gov/" target="_blank">House Committee on Agriculture</a> will host Farm Bill listening sessions in San Angelo, Texas on July 21, 2017 and in Morgan, Minnesota on August 3, 2017. The sessions will provide legislators insight that will help them form the 2018 Farm Bill.</div>
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<div>More information regarding the sessions will be available shortly. The sessions are often broadcasted on the <a href="https://agriculture.house.gov/" target="_blank">House Committee on Agriculture website</a>. Copies of witness testimonies will also be available. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Both the House and Senate Committees on Agriculture have hosted farm bill listening sessions across the country. The sessions give members of congress the opportunity to engage with farmers and stakeholders in different regions about their issues and needs. In late June, the House committee heard testimony from farmers in <a href="https://agriculture.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=3939" target="_blank">Florida</a>. The Senate committee held sessions in both <a href="https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/hearings/growing-jobs-and-economic-opportunity_perspectives-on-the-2018-farm-bill-from-michigan" target="_blank">Michigan </a>and <a href="https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/hearings/hearing-from-the-heartland-perspectives-on-the-2018-farm-bill-from-kansas" target="_blank">Kansas </a>this year. </div>
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<div>CCOF encourages any stakeholders in Texas or Minnesota to attend. CCOF will continue to track the development of the 2018 Farm Bill. Please contact <a href="mailto:policy@ccof.org">CCOF’s policy department</a> with any questions.</div>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Tags: </h3><ul class="links inline"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0">policy</li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-1">advocacy</li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-2">farm bill</li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-3">regulatory</li></ul></div>Mon, 17 Jul 2017 17:41:47 +0000Peter Nell422751 at https://www.ccof.orgMichigan to Host “Growing Jobs & Economic Opportunity” Farm Bill Hearinghttps://www.ccof.org/blog/michigan-host-%E2%80%9Cgrowing-jobs-economic-opportunity%E2%80%9D-farm-bill-hearing
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>The United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry will hold its <a href="https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/hearings/growing-jobs-and-economic-opportunity_perspectives-on-the-2018-farm-bill-from-michigan" target="_blank">second 2018 Farm Bill hearing</a> in Frankenmuth, Michigan on May 6, 2017.</p>
<p>The farm bill is a hefty piece of legislation passed by Congress every five years that sets the nation’s food and agriculture policies. Consisting of 12 major sections or titles, the farm bill sets the rules for commodity, conservation, trade, nutrition, credit, rural development, research, forestry, energy, horticulture, and crop insurance programs.</p>
<p>The current farm bill was approved in 2014, and Congress is now preparing to pass a new farm bill in 2018. Led by Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) and ranking member Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), the Senate Agriculture Committee is holding hearings around the country to gather citizen input into the bill.</p>
<p>CCOF’s farm bill priorities include increased authorized funding of the National Organic Program; protecting cost share; an increase in funds for organic agriculture research; and continued funding for the Organic Data Initiative, Specialty Crop Research Initiative, Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Development Program, and Whole Farm Revenue Protection. More information on our priorities is outlined in our <a href="/sites/default/files/1a%20-%20Attachment%20-%20CCOF%20Farm%20Bill%20priorities%20with%20funding%20on%20letterhead.pdf">2018 Farm Bill Priorities</a>.</p>
<p>The second hearing will likely focus on specialty crop growers, organic producers, urban farmers, and other groups representing Michigan’s agricultural diversity.</p>
<p>CCOF will be encouraging our members in Michigan to attend the hearing and participate in the ongoing national conversation.</p>
<p>At the first hearing in Kansas, farmers, ranchers, and representatives of rural groups gave testimony on their farm bill priorities. CCOF-certified food maker <a href="https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/hearings/growing-jobs-and-economic-opportunity_perspectives-on-the-2018-farm-bill-from-michigan" target="_blank">Hilary’s Drink Eat Well</a>, a company specializing in convenient and culinary foods made from real ingredients that are free from common allergens, <a href="/blog/farm-bill-journey-commences-senate-ag-committee-hearing-kansas">attended the first hearing in Kansas</a>.</p>
<p>CCOF will continue to track the 2018 Farm Bill and share information regarding hearings. Please contact <a href="mailto:policy@ccof.org">policy@ccof.org</a> with any questions.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Tags: </h3><ul class="links inline"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0">farm bill</li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-1">policy</li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-2">advocacy</li></ul></div>Mon, 24 Apr 2017 16:11:28 +0000Peter Nell339246 at https://www.ccof.org